Nucleic acid probes and methods for detecting plasmodium parasites

Abstract

This invention relates to novel nucleic acid probes and methods for detecting Plasmodium parasites as well as detecting different Plasmodium parasites selectively from one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for detecting the presence of  Plasmodium malariae  in a biological sample, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a biological sample to be analyzed for the presence of  Plasmodium malariae;      b) providing a composition suitable for detecting  Plasmodium malariae  in the sample, said composition selected from one or more of: a nucleic acid sequence consisting of a labeled [SEQ ID NO: 14] or the labeled full-length complementary sequence thereof;   c) contacting said sample with the composition suitable for detecting  Plasmodium malariae  in a hybridization assay under conditions that permit said probe to hybridize to  Plasmodium malariae  nucleic acid; and   b) detecting said probe bound to said  Plasmodium malariae  nucleic acid in said sample as an indication of the presence of  Plasmodium malariae  in said sample.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid probe is a nucleic acid sequence consisting of a labeled [SEQ ID NO: 14]. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid probe is a labeled full-length complementary sequence of [SEQ ID NO: 14] thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said detecting comprises detecting probe bound to said  Plasmodium malariae  nucleic acid by Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization (FISH). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said detecting comprises detecting probe bound to said  Plasmodium malariae  nucleic acid by a Dot Blot assay. 
     
     
         6 . A composition comprising the nucleotide sequence consisting of [SEQ ID NO: 14], wherein the nucleotide sequence is labeled. 
     
     
         7 . A composition comprising the complementary sequence to the nucleotide sequence consisting of [SEQ ID NO: 14], wherein the nucleotide sequence is labeled. 
     
     
         8 . A method for detecting the presence of  Plasmodium ovale  in a sample, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a biological sample to be analyzed for the presence of  Plasmodium ovale;      b) providing a composition suitable for detecting  Plasmodium ovale  in the sample, said composition selected from one or more of: a nucleic acid sequence consisting of a labeled [SEQ ID NO: 15] or the labeled full-length complementary sequence thereof;   c) contacting said sample with the composition suitable for detecting  Plasmodium ovale  in a hybridization assay under conditions that permit said probe to hybridize to  Plasmodium ovale  nucleic acid; and   b) detecting said probe bound to said  Plasmodium ovale  nucleic acid in said sample as an indication of the presence of  Plasmodium ovale  in said sample.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said nucleic acid probe is a nucleic acid sequence consisting of a labeled [SEQ ID NO: 15]. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said nucleic acid probe is a labeled full-length complementary sequence of [SEQ ID NO: 15] thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said detecting comprises detecting probe bound to said  Plasmodium ovale  nucleic acid by Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization (FISH). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said detecting comprises detecting probe bound to said  Plasmodium ovale  nucleic acid by a Dot Blot assay. 
     
     
         13 . A composition comprising the nucleotide sequence consisting of [SEQ ID NO: 15], wherein the nucleotide sequence is labeled. 
     
     
         14 . A composition comprising the complementary sequence to the nucleotide sequence consisting of [SEQ ID NO: 15], wherein the nucleotide sequence is labeled.